Quality & Operational Improvement Engineer - Quality Improvement Program

This position is responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and/or evaluating patient safety principles and practices throughout UI Health Care Medical Center Downtown (MCD) campus. This position ensures health services are delivered effectively and efficiently. This position is involved in planning, organizing, and evaluation of quality operations as well as providing a planned, systematic approach to identifying, designing, measuring and monitoring patient safety .

This position drives transformational change by applying continuous improvement methodologies, leveraging data-driven decision-making, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to address quality needs while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategic objectives. Through effective leadership and influence, this role cultivates an organizational culture that embraces continuous improvement, accountability, innovation, and measurable results.

Skills, Duties and Responsibilities In collaboration with council chair, establishes agenda topics for the monthly Quality Improvement Committee of the Hospital Medical Staff (QICHMS) Maintains the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, ethical conduct, and discretion in the management of sensitive organizational information. Reviews all safety events that attribute to clinical areas of responsibility and other areas as needed/appropriate.

Ensures events are categorized correctly and have the correct level of harm assigned. Ensures reviewers provide appropriate incident report follow up documentation in the system prior to closing out an event. Leads effectively through change, demonstrating flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to anticipate and respond to evolving organizational, regulatory, and healthcare environments.

Engages in MCD committee and workgroup activities and cultivates strong working relationships with MCD’s local leaders to help support quality and safety efforts in a matrixed organization. Considers both the importance of systemization and intentional variation when considering the community hospital into larger system-wide planning and policies. Manages high harm event reviews that attribute to clinical areas of responsibility and other clinical areas as needed/appropriate.

Leads Patient Care and Safety committee as well as the accreditation committee. Presents pertinent data and education to leaders, providers and staff. Participates in all Environment of care rounding bi-monthly and as needed.

Serve as the campus lead for DIAL surveys, coordinating MCD survey logistics, facilitating document requests, and partnering with the system Accreditation Services team on onsite survey activities, survey response, and plans of correction. Monitors organization quality and safety performance data, collaborating with appropriate leadership to define and execute action plans to address performance gaps Leads through influence and collaboration, effectively communicating with and engaging stakeholders across all levels of the organization to achieve shared goals and sustainable results WECARE Core Values: W elcoming: We have an environment where everyone has a voice that is heard; that promotes the dignity of our patients, trainees, and employees; and allows all to thrive in their health, work, research, and education.

E xcellence: We achieve and deliver our personal and collective best in the pursuit of quality and accessible health care, education, and research. C ollaboration: We collaborate with health care systems, providers, and communities across Iowa and the region as well as within our UI community. We believe teamwork—guided by compassion—is the best way to work.

A ccountability: We behave ethically, act with fairness and integrity, take responsibility for our own actions, and respond when errors in behavior or judgment occur. R espect: We create an environment where every individual feels safe, valued, and respected, supporting the well-being and success of all members of our community. E mpowerment: We commit to fair access to research, health care, and education for our community and opportunities for personal and professional growth for our staff and learners.

Supervision Received: General supervision is received from the Director and the Chief Quality Officer in the Quality Improvement Program. Required

Education Requirement: A master’s degree in a healthcare related field, business, or engineering field, or an equivalent combination of related education and experience. Experience Requirement: Minimum 3 years quality hospital experience Demonstrated experience collaborating with department and organization leadership including interpersonal skills necessary to build effective relationships within all levels of the organization.

Demonstrates strong executive presence, written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence outcomes across organizational boundaries. Professional job-related experience fostering or promoting a welcoming and respectful work environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives feel welcomed and appreciated. Possess ability to analyze complex data and report metrics.

Desirable

Demonstrated knowledge of healthcare outcomes and Performance Improvement methodology experience Advanced analytical skills necessary for the evaluation of complex data sets. Experience working in an academic healthcare environment is strongly desired. Application Process: To be considered for an interview, applicants must upload a current resume and a cover letter that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check.

Professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. This position is not eligible for University of Iowa sponsorship for employment authorization. For additional questions, please contact Jessica Lanham at jessica-lanham@uiowa.edu.